After dealing with Visuddhi Chakra in the neck region and Anaahatha Chakra in the heart region, let us now study about the chakra in the abdominal region, viz. MANIPOORAKA.

Let us see what YOGINI NYASA has to say about this Chakra.

The placement of these plexes is near the navel. The presiding yogini is called LAKINI. She used to be contemplated as of reddish hue and protruding teeth. She is fierce looking and endowed with 3 faces. In her four hands she carries Shakti, Dhamaboli, Dhanda and Abhaya. She evokes fear in the minds of pagans, is the reigning deity of flesh and is fond of food mixed with jaggery. She is surrounded by ten sub-yoginis, damari etc., and gives happiness to all devotees.

Note: The three faces of Lakini are probably, Shabda, sparsha and roopa which are the characteristics of Fire or Jatharagni (agni in the stomach, which causes hunger).

The details of 10 Sub-yoginis are as under:

LETTERS	SUBYOGINI	PLACEMENT	ANANDHA	SHAKTHI
DA	DAMARI	PHRENIC PLEXES NERVES GO TO DIAPHRAM AND SUPRA RENAL GLANDS.	SUSHUPTHA	SARVAGA
DDA	DHANKARINI	HEPATIC PLEXUS - THIS IS THE BIGGEST AND HAS CONTROL OVER BLOOD VESSELS SURROUNDING YAKRUTHA	VRUSHNA	SOMAA
NNA	NNARNNA	SPLENIC PLEXUS - HAS CONTROL OVER DIGESTION IN THE STOMACH.	ICHCHA	YEA
THA	THAMASI	SUPRA GASTRIC PLEXUS SAME AS ABOVE.	VISHUNNA	BHADHRA
THHA	STHANNVI	SUPRA RENAL PLEXUS - CONTROL OVER WORK OF MUTHRAPINDA	SALLASA	THAKSHINI
DHA	DHAKSHAYANI	RENAL PLEXUS - NERVES GO TO MUTHRAPINDA, VRUSHNA AND MUTHRAVAHI	MOHA	SOUNDHARYA
DHHA	DHHATRI	SPERMATIC PLEXUS OR THE OVARIAN PLEXUS NERVES GO TO ANDAKOSHA INMEN AND TO OVARIES AND GARBHASHAYA IN WOMEN	BHAYA	SHANTHABHADRA
NA	NAAREE	SUPERIOR MESENTARIC PLEXUS	DHRONA	VISHARATHA
PA	PARVATHI	PANCREATIC PLEXUS CONTROL OVER VARIOUS JUICES	KASHAYA	DHAMSHINI
PHA	PHANKARINI	COLIC PLEXUS	VISHADHA	RUCHIRA

Control of Manipuraka chakra results in obtaining Samhara shakti, Paalana Shakti, Oratory, Agnibala etc. Digestion improves, body becomes juiceless, mala and mutra (stools & urine) become less and less, mind becomes calm and concentrated. This Chakra is the cause of hunger and thirst. Cough is also produced from here.

Out of the four types of speeches, the first one PARAVANI originates here. Other speeches dissolve here.

Let us now see what other texts say:

Pathanjala yogasuthram vibhoothipadha : nabhichakre kayavyooha jnanam Yogachoodamani: nabhidese sthitham chakram dhasaram manipoorakam thanthuna manivath protho yoathra khandhah sushumnaya thannabhimandale chakram prochyathe manipoorakam

494th --MANIPOORABJANILAYA : ONE WHO RESIDES IN THE MANIPOORAKA CHAKRA
495th VADHANATHRAYA SAMYUTHA ENDOWED WITH 3 FACES
496TH VAJRADHIKAAYUDHHOPETHA - WHO POSSESSES WEAPONS LIKE VAJRA (THUNDERBOLT)
497th DAMARYADHIBHIRAAVRUTHA WHO IS SURROUNDED BY SUB-YOGINIS LIKE DAMARI ETC.
498th RAKTHAVARNA - OF REDDISH HUE.
499th MAMSANISHTA - PRESIDING DEITY OF THE FLESH.
500th GUDANNAPREETHA MANASA - WHOSE MIND IS PLEASED WITH FOOD MIXED WITH JAGGERY.
501st SAMASTHA BHAKTHA SUKHADA ONE WHO RENDERS HAPPINESS TO ALL DEVOTEES.
502nd LAKINYAMBA SWAROOPINI WHO IS IN THE FORM OF THE YOGINI CALLED LAKINI.

However, the author of Soundaryalahari refers to this Chakra as Swadhishthana, being the abode of fire. Verse No. 39, reads as follows:

O Mother! I salute Him (Rudra) Who dwells in Swadhishthana, Who presides over Agnitathva as Samvartha. I also sing the glory of the Great Samaya (Rudra Shakthi). When Rudra consumes the worlds with the gaze of the mighty ice, pregnant with wrath, it is Thou, Who Mother, Who dost massage by Thine eyes moistened with pity.

As per Swami Shivananda, one should repeat this stanza 108 times daily for 12 days to avoid bad dreams.

...To be continued.